Scots campaigners go to London to take forward children's rights
Children must be heard and their views sought on Brexit, MPs are to be told at a special event at Westminster today (13 September).
Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Bruce Adamson, will join leading children’s charities and campaigners to urge politicians to take children’s views seriously during negotiations.
The event will discuss the possible implications of Brexit for children across the UK, including plans for child-related EU law within the EU Withdrawal Bill, and the social and economic rights of EU migrant and non-EU nationality children in the UK.
The group includes Juliet Harris, director of Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) and Children in Scotland’s head of policy, Amy Woodhouse.
Bruce Adamson, said: “Children and young people in Scotland, and across the UK, have the right to contribute their views to the Brexit negotiations and should be given meaningful opportunities to do so. Information on how Brexit could affect their lives should be provided in a child-friendly format and then their views sought in both formal and informal ways.”
Juliet Harris said the full impact of leaving the European Union on children and young people was yet unknown.
“From family law and child protection through to tackling child trafficking and poverty, the European Union provides children and young people with fundamental rights and protections that are now at risk.
“In representing the children’s sector at today’s event, we hope parliamentarians begin to recognise and understand the importance of ensuring children and young people’s rights are at the heart of every decision made from now on.
Prior to the House of Commons event Amy Woodhouse will be speaking at a rally outside Parliament organised by the3million, a support network campaigning to guarantee the rights of EU citizens in the UK.
She said: “We want to use this opportunity to articulate the grave concerns we have and why we think Brexit will have a disproportionate impact on children compared to the rest of the UK population.”
